(There isn’t anything in particular I’m thinking of. Though I think throwing the characters into some action would help to move things along somewhat.)
“If I may, I wish to know more about why you like spending time with us down here. I can guess that some of it may be to escape pressure of your responsibilities, but I’m wondering if there is something more … ?”
Dahlia watched the Prince rip apart the blade of grass. The atmosphere was feeling more relaxed, and her heartbeats only sounded louder. She desperately wanted to relax and lay back, but she still felt too on edge. She might not even sleep tonight.
She quickly turned to look back at the sky, hoping the Prince had not noticed her entertainment in watching him play with grass.
(oki, got it)
After ripping the grass blade apart, the Prince threw it away, picking up another one and leaning back on the bench, continuing to twist the grass on his fingers.
"Honestly, yeah, thats one reason for it." he admitted, looking away. "But at the same time i kinda wanna know my people, see what they think and if they are happy. Dad said its a good exercise for when im king, but in general i also just wanna enjoy some freedom while i still have it. Being a king isnt as easy as it sounds, you know?"
There were really tiny bits if melancholy in his voice, very very faint, but still there.
She nodded to herself.
“I understand,” she stated, expecting the answer. “Though, it seems that you have much more time on your hands than there should be … but youth should be spent with enjoyment.”
Dahlia somewhat knew the pressure of being nobility. She hadn’t had many chances, but saw firsthand how difficult things could become. So, none of her experience could even compare to what the Prince would ever face. She was tugged back and forth quite a bit, ‘Hold your head up high, but not as high as us.’, ‘Look down more.’, ‘Always look where you’re going.’, up and down, left and right, and all the time she wanted to leave. Reading books and watching over the children was a much more calming lifestyle.
"Mhm." he hummed, looking up. "There's still plenty of time until then, so i plan on making the best of it while i still can."
He was still pretty young and his father was in great shape, therefore he wasn't too stressed about the crown being passed to him any time soon. Right now he just worried about smaller things in his life, like the small hidden feeling in his heart that kept telling him something was missing in his life but he could never tell what exactly it was.
Dorian looked up at the now darkened sky and concluded it was maybe time to go back home.
Dahlia could feel the conversation trickling down. She already knew it would be getting late at this point too.
She quickly stood, “I fear I’ve taken too much of your time, so I will be taking my leave now. I look forward to finding the end of your stories from the woods.”
She slowed her actions more now. Really waiting to be properly dismissed, and avoid looking like she was running from the Prince. She bowed, following a shiver down her spine. Some of her doubts resurfaced again, this time her thinking about the possibility of them being spied on.
It’s not like the spy would specifically be from him though … and I’m probably safe because of the Prince.
The still silence of the situation was broken when Dhalia spoke, so Dorian turned his gaze towards her.
"Ah, no, don't worry, it is me who continued the discussion with no regards towards time." he smiled, waving his hand. "I too hope i will one day be able to provide an end to that story. But until then, i guess we'll see each other another time…?"
He stood up when she bowed, his hands reached out to help her back to her straight position.
"Please, no bows. Think of me as a friend"
Once she was back upright, he took back his hands and smiled again.
"Thank you for the wonderful company today"
After exchanging their goodbyes, Dorian waved at her again before walking in the direction of the castle
